James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I come from a family of healthcare workers. My siblings are involved in healthcare and pharmacy and one is studying medicine at the moment. I am very aware, therefore, of the importance of community-based healthcare and how critical it is for people. In the past eight years, we have seen a very steep decline in GP services in my local community. It started to erupt post 2016, when stories emerged of people moving into our region of east Cork were unable to get their family onto the books of a GP. Obviously, such cases are where SouthDoc becomes a critical component, not least if somebody develops a sudden illness. I have heard of people on certain occasions waiting outside SouthDoc in Midleton unable to get in, which is totally unacceptable. It is a fabulous facility with a huge base. Very significant money has been put into the facility. As I said, when it was working at its prime, the people of east Cork found it invaluable. I have used it myself on occasion when it was needed. I have a huge concern for people in the area.

Moreover, Fermoy is just that distance farther from the healthcare infrastructure in Cork, not least the based services. They serve Mitchelstown and into the areas around the Knockmealdown Mountains and the Comeragh Mountains, along the borders of County Waterford and south Tipperary. That is a long way to go if you need to get down to Cork city and are in trouble.